May 2014 ~ LIFE-STYLE

Saturday, May 31, 2014

Mariah Carey Rides The Subway in NYC, Isn't Happy About The Trash

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Mariah Carey might be known as a diva, but sometimes she gets down and dirty with the regular folk.

The superstar headed to New York City's Chelsea Piers on Thursday night, May 29, decked out in a glittering blue gown and fingerless gloves to attend the Fresh Air Fund gala. Afterward, instead of getting a chauffeured Bentley home, Carey decided to hop on the subway, since she was so underdressed and all.

Needless to say, she wasn't impressed with the trash.

Still, she was willing to give the 1 train a shot with producer Jermaine Dupri by her side. And she looked like she had a pretty good time.

DreamWorks' Dragons moves to Netflix

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The CGI animated series set in the world of How to Train Your Dragon will broadcast new episodes on streaming video service Netflix from 2015.

DreamWorks' fantasy adventure saga has become a cult favourite franchise since the first movie was released in 2010. To fill the gap during the four years spent developing this summer's long-awaited cinematic sequel, the studio has also been producing the episodic Dragons TV series since 2012. So far, the show has been produced for Cartoon Network in the US, but the upcoming third season will abandon traditional TV for the online platform.

The move is likely to be crushing for Cartoon Network. The series has been one of its highest rated programs, consistently averaging around two million viewers per episode. Those are the sorts of numbers Netflix will be all too happy to take on as the show becomComingSoon: "This is one of DreamWorks Animation's most beloved set of characters and we know that kids and families will be enjoying them for years to come." The deal is reportedly for multiple seasons of Dragons.

es the latest addition to its growing portfolio of original content. The move is set to be a long term one too, with Netflix's Vice President for Original Content, Cindy Holland, telling

Loosely based on the children's novels by Cressida Cowell, the franchise follows scrawny young Viking boy Hiccup, who overcomes his culture's preference for brawn over brains by taming the dragon Toothless, leading to peace between humans and giant flying lizards. Later adventures see the young hero and his friends protecting their village Berk from invaders and rival clans. While the first two seasons of Dragons - Riders of Berk and Defenders of Berk -- told their own stories, the third, subtitled Dragon Masters, is set to bridge the gap between the two films.
The movies' cast will continue to voice the characters for the Netflix run, including Jay Baruchel as Hiccup and America Ferrera as feisty Viking warrior girl Astrid. The new episodes will air in all Netflix territories from Spring 2015.

Leap Motion refines finger tracking for precise control

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Leap Motion's newest motion-tracking software just got much more precise. Today, the company released its Version 2 (V2) software to developers in a public beta. The update allows developers to create applications that can make use of very subtle finger and joint movements.

The previous version of the Leap Motion software was already impressive in its motion-sensing magic. Its hardware -- a pack-of-gum-sized device -- uses infrared sensors to track finger and hand movements and turn them into input gestures. Version 1 of the software supported an array of finger, hand, and knuckle gestures -- you could also make a "grabbing" motion to select and move parts of the onscreen interface.

You can still do all of that with the V2 software, but now individual joints and bones can be mapped to specific input rules. For example, developers can create software that translates a movement of the index finger knuckle as a completely different input than a movement of the middle finger knuckle. Onscreen items can react and be manipulated by intricate hand gestures such as pinches and two-handed sculpting movements; you can map gestures like "grab" and "pinch" via Leap Motion's API.

As Leap Motion's first video of V2 in action shows, this could mean incredible things for the world of computer-generated animation. The video shows how the V2 software recognises individual hand, fingers, joints, and bones through its "Visualiser" mode; you can compare its more-granular skills to the previous version of the software in this video. When those more-intricate gestures are mapped to an animated set of Mickey-Mouse-like hands, the on-screen results are incredibly smooth and lifelike.

If you already have the Leap Motion hardware, the good news is that the V2 beta software is a free update that will work with existing units. In addition to the more-robust motion-tracking capabilities, Leap Motion has also made the hardware less sensitive to ambient-light interference in the software update.

Watch Youtube: Leap Motion V2 Tracking Developer Beta - Demo

This Is Obviously The Celebrity Haircut Of The Summer

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It appears Hollywood starlets are ditching longer locks for something more ... manageable.
Recently, celebrities including Hilary Duff, Minka Kelly and Kaley Cuoco all debuted their new "lob" haircuts (aka the longer version of a bob), taking to social media to fill fans in on their chopped 'dos. Even Jennifer Lawrence has discovered that the pixie is out, opting for extensions while she transitions between hair lengths.
"There have been a lot of short-hair celebrity transformations, a lot of bobs, a lot of retro cuts sort of like Linda Evangelista," hairstylist to the stars Chris McMillan told Glamour. "I also love the way Jennifer Lawrence's hair is growing out. She's sporting that longer-shorter haircut, which looks really great."

Below, proof that the bob is the haircut of the summer:

This Prosthetic Is Designed Especially For Rock Climbers

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The loss of a leg can stymie the pursuit of adventurous outdoor sports for many — but not if designer Kai Lin has anything to do with it His latest creation, Klippa, is a prosthetic leg designed especially for rock climbers.

Specifically, Lin has in mind American veterans who have lost legs but would like to continue or take up climbing.

While standard prosthetic legs are designed for walking, they’re inadequate for the needs of climbers: they lack the flexibility, articulation and small footprint required to make it up most rock faces. So Lin spent time interviewing climbers and examining exactly how their legs move.

He figured that his leg needed a soft but easily replaceable rubber lining; an elastic, pivoted joint to provides proper ankle articulation; and a small contact patch to provide control and high grip. He even took a cue from nature, using the shape of a mountain goat’s foot in place of a regular sole.
The result is impressive — but sadly still a concept for now. We’re certain there will be demand for the prosthetic though. [Klippa via Neatorama]

Monster Machines: America's Most Important Spy Plane That Isn't An SR-71 Blackbird

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The Boeing RC-135 is the most effective American spyplane you’ve never heard of. It’s the John Paul Jones to the SR-71′s Robert Plant - a quiet workhorse that has flown over countless US missions while providing vital, real-time signals intelligence.

Dubbed the “Rivet Joint”, these heavily modded KC-135′s have been in operation since 1964, a replacement to the USAF’s ageing fleet of RB-50 Superfortresses. From Vietnam to Grenada to the Balkans to Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan, these planes have flown in every armed conflict involving US assets since their introduction. Originally assigned to Strategic Air Command, the 22 RC-135′s that make up the 55th Wing — three RC-135S Cobra Balls, two RC-135U Combat Sents and 17 RC-135V/W Rivet Joints — are now under the control of Air Combat Command and operate out of Offutt AFB in Nebraska.

Designed as a dedicated SIGINT (signals intelligence) platform, the Rivet Joint’s crew can monitor wide swaths of the electromagnetic spectrum — from ELF radio signals to microwaves — intercept these transmissions from up to 240km away, and then either forward the data back to HQ or analyse it onboard and disseminate it directly to ground troops using the platform’s extensive communications suite. The five-man crew is routinely augmented with up to 25 additional electronic warfare officers, intelligence operators, and in-flight maintenance technicians in order to make this happen.

New NASA Video Shows A Massive Sun Explosion Like Never Before

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For the first time ever, NASA has been able to capture a massive solar eruption with unprecedented detail using IRIS, a highly sensitive instrument that can only cover a relatively small zone of the sun at any give time.

Catching this involved “some educated guesses and a little bit of luck.”
The video made by the Interface Region Imaging Spectrograph is impressive. Keep in mind that the video is covering an area “five Earth’s wide and about seven and a half Earth’s tall.”

Breaking News: Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Dallas Welcome Baby Boy

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Their little prince has arrived! Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas have welcomed their first child, a baby boy, their rep confirms to Us Weekly. The new arrival comes just a month and half after the Once Upon a Time costars secretly tied the knot.

Us first confirmed back in November 2013 that Goodwin, 35, and Dallas, 32, were expecting a little bundle of joy. At the time, the actress tried to keep her baby bump concealed while taping the ABC fairy tale series.

Goodwin and her hunky costar first began dating in March 2012, and got engaged last October. On April 12, they said "I do" in an intimate ceremony in the Los Angeles area. The following day, the Big Love alum showed off her new diamond ring and growing baby bump as the pair stepped out to visit a friend in L.A.

"They really hit it off," a source told Us of the newlyweds (and first-time parents!) back in 2012. "She and Josh have a blast together and had an instant chemistry."

Space rats get sensor-packed ISS digs

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Nasa has developed new rodent living quarters that will be used to explore the effects of microgravity on rats and mice aboard the International Space Station (ISS).

The Rodent Research Facility comprises of a set of reusable modules. A transporter module will be used to carry the rodents up to the station on an unmanned SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. Once the craft has docked, astronauts will transfer the rodents from the transporter into a habitat module.

Each of these will be able to house as many as ten mice or six rats, providing water, food, lighting and fresh air. The animals will be able to move around the space by gripping onto grids that line the floor and walls.

The temperature and air quality of the environment will be monitored by sensors, while a video system will let the crew in space -- and scientists and vets on the ground -- monitor the health of the animals.

Apple has best products coming later this year, iTunes chief says

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Apple’s got something major in the works, according to their iTunes and iCloud chief Eddy Cue. At the Code Conference this week, Cue said Apple has the best products he’s seen in his quarter-century with the company coming later this year.

That’s a bold statement from a guy who’s seen just about everything Apple’s ever done. Read More..

VW GTI Roadster Vision Gran Turismo: The extreme Golf you download

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Volkswagen clearly enjoys provoking suffering and anguish, showing off the most striking Golf variant to-date, but only allowing those drivers playing Gran Turismo 6 the opportunity to play it. The VW GTI Roadster, Vision Gran Turismo is the company's take on a sports car for the digital age, available mid-June as an exclusive download for GT6 on the PS3. Read more..

Toshiba unveils latest Encore 2 tablets (hands-on)

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Toshiba is one of the few companies that has used its years of PC-making expertise to come at the tablet market from an origianl angle. Rather than entering the Android fray, it has instead hedged its bets on Windows 8.1 as a tablet interface. It has today unveiled the latest two tablets in this range -- the 7-inch and 10-inch Encore 2.

Toshiba's original Encore was only available in an 8-inch form factor and was debuted at the IFA technology show in Berlin last September. It scored relatively well in our review thanks to its low price tag and connectivity options, but we also felt it was overly chunky. All of these factors are also true of its successors. Continue reading >>

Malaysia Top Prawn Mee shop: The Two Faces Of Prawn Mee

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Aunty Foong Cafe

One of the rare places to find clear-soup prawn mee (cheng tong). The broth is really excellent – full of sweetness and absolutely preservative and additive free. Pork balls are used in place of pork strips and they are very tender and moist. At RM4.50 for a small bowl and RM5 for a large one, it is worth the trip to this part of the city.

Address: 3 Jalan 5/62A Bandar Menjalara, 52200 Kepong, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 018-3787-148 | Opening hours: Tues – Sun, 6.30am – 1.30pm (Closed on Mon)
GPS coordinates: 3.194871,101.631466 | Non-halal

Sanook Thai Cafe

A new addition to their Thai menu, Sanook’s prawn mee recipe comes from a Penang hawker. Priced at RM5.90, diners can choose to have Thai instant noodles in place of mee or meehoon.

Address: 13 Faber Plaza, Jalan Desa Jaya, Taman Desa, Off Old Klang Road, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03 7986 0979 | Opening hours: Wed – Mon, 10am – 10pm (Closed on Tues)
GPS coordinates: 3.102517, 101.683117 | Non-halal

Choon Prawn Mee

The king of them all! It began as a stall in O&S coffee shop, Paramount, and has now moved to a specialised restaurant of its own. It is the perfect prawn mee, with a rich, red stock, that gets bowls, chopsticks and fingers greasy from the chili oil. The traditional version is RM6.50. There are a lot of possible add-ons ranging from pig intestines, pork ribs, tail, big prawns and squid which can bring a bowl up to RM12.

Address: 13 Jalan 20/14 Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya
Tel: 012 265 8193 | Opening hours: Mon – Sun, 7am – 5pm (Closed final Thursdays of the month)
GPS coordinates: 3.106967, 101.625267 | Non-halal

Lorong Seratus Tahun

A pork-free variant is offered and it tastes nearly as good as the versions with pork stock. You pay a premium for the nice setting though, at RM7.90++ a bowl.

Address: 56, Jalan SS 2/66, 47300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor | Opening hours: 11am-10pm
GPS coordinates: 3.119896, 101.6207229 | Halal

Porn industry calling for a boycott on Samuel

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(Xbox 360, PS3): 'Nothing amazing about this at all'

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The Amazing Spider-Man 2 uses the recently released movie of the same name as a starting point, but it's so devoid of atmosphere or character it could easily been any of the four Spider-Man games developer Beenox have released over the last four years.

You swing around New York. Every minute or so you have to beat up a group of bad guys, or disarm a bomb. Story missions involve similarly repetitive challenges but with some cutscenes interspersed. It's pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a non-Batman superhero movie tie-in.

Combat is dull, and, while the web-swinging mechanics have a certain, pleasing flow to them, zipping around such a lifeless and poorly rendered city grows old pretty quickly. Trademark quips aside, it also feels like the game lacks a certain authenticity – especially in the bizarre sections where you can speak to real-life Marvel creator Stan Lee in a comic book shop. Not so much breaking the fourth wall as breaking any sense of the developers getting to grips with their gaming universe.
Hardcore Spidey fans may well find enough here to keep them interested for a two or three days. But there's nothing Amazing about this game.

E-cigarettes: study finds they 'help smokers quit'

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One leading expert said it would be “perfectly reasonable” for the devices, which will soon be licensed as medicines, to be prescribed on the NHS.

Despite concerns that the recent rise in popularity of ‘e-cigs’ may be “re-normalising” smoking, Professor Robert West of University College London said that they had proven to be highly efficient quit-smoking aids, which could “substantially improve public health”.

Around a quarter of the four million people in England that attempted to quit smoking in the past year used e-cigarettes to help them.

Joseph Minala: Italian FA confirms that the Lazio player is 17, and not 42

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"The federal prosecutor has examined the reports of the allegations and decided to dismiss the case in the light of concrete evidence over the age of the player Joseph Minala," said the FIGC in a statement.
"There are no doubts about his age. He is 17."
African website senego.net reported in February that Minala, who is from Cameroon, was really 42 and had altered his passport, something the player denied in a statement on the Serie A club's website.

Minala made his Serie A debut against Sampdoria in April and made two further appearances last season.

Nokia Lumia 630 review

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Nokia's last low-priced high performer was the Lumia 520, and the Lumia 630 is its successor. Competition at the lower end of the smartphone market is becoming fierce as manufacturers vie to pack in the most functionality at the lowest price.

These devices may not have all the bells and whistles of the serious high-enders, but they can do most things more than well enough to justify their pocket money prices.

Read more..

HTC One Mini 2 review

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We've already had the HTC One mini, so logic, if not common sense, would decree that it's next incarnation should be called the HTC One mini 2.

It's bigger than the original, and getting dangerously close to its inspiration, the HTC One (M8) in size.

Read more..

Godzilla - 2014

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The world's most famous monster is pitted against malevolent creatures who, bolstered by humanity's scientific arrogance, threaten our very existence. Watch Now

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X-Men Days Of Future Past

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Sentinels, robots that were created for the purpose of hunting down mutants were released in 1973. 50 years later the Sentinels would also hunt humans who aid mutants. Charles Xavier and his X-Men try their best to deal with the Sentinels but they are able to adapt and deal with all mutant abilities.

Charles decides to go back in time and change things. He asks Kitty Pryde who can send a person's consciousness into the person's past to send him but she can only send someone back a few weeks because if she sends someone back further it could harm them. So Logan decides to go back himself because he might be able to withstand it. She would be caught and studied and her ability to change was somehow added to the Sentinels which is why they can adapt. Logan is also told to find Magneto...

Download Now:
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Google Nexus 8: Release date, rumours, features and news

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Little is known for sure about the tablet – we’re not even sure if it really exists – but more and more rumours are emerging about the tablet. The Google Nexus 7 (pictured) – which it would likely replace – is also due to an update soon.
The second generation of the tablet was launch in July.
While it’s unclear whether or not its on the way, we’ve rounded up every thing we know about the tablet so far. Keep checking back as we’ll update it as we find out more.

Google Nexus 8 release date

When reports first emerged that Google was working on an eight inch tablet, it was claimed that it would launch sometime after February.
In the middle of February, reports emerged giving a much firmer date, claiming that Google is planning to launch the Nexus 8 in April.
According to Digitimes, a source in the supply chain has claimed that Google is working towards an April launch for its eight inch tablet.
According to the source, the thinking behind launching an eight inch tablet is that the company wants to deliver more value to those who would otherwise buy a seven inch tablet.
That goes against previous claims – also by Digitimes – that it was developing the tablet due to weak demand for the seven inch device.
Google has not commented on the rumour.

Google Nexus 8 screen size

Perhaps unsurprisingly, we’re anticipating that the Nexus 8 will come with an eight-inch screen. What we don’t know is what its resolution will be.
We’d be surprised if Google came in with anything less than full HD.

Google Nexus 8 specs

The story was published by Digitimes, quoting a supply chain source.
According to the source, the eight inch version of the tablet will be the first from Google to come with Intel’s new Bay Trail processor. The claim is significant, not only because if it is true, the deal will be a major coup for the US chip maker, but because Intel’s Bay Trail processors are 64-bit.
That would mean the tablet would come with a minimum of 4GB of RAM –otherwise there isn’t a huge amount of point in going with a 64-bit processor.

German network reckons iPhone 6 is arriving Sep 19

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It's fair to say there's a wee bit of expectation surrounding Apple's iPhone 6 and any information we can get hold of about when the company plans to reveal it is welcome.

Chances are that Apple will stick to previous years and release the new device in September (or October) as before. However, one clairvoyant German network is prepared to get a little more specific.

Officials at Deutsche Telekom say that they've been told that the iPhone 6 will go on sale on September 19. That's according to a German Apple blog called Apfelpage.de.

The chance of Apple revealing its release date this far ahead of the unveiling seems a little suspect to us - although a mid-September on-sale date does sound about right.
Unfortunately, there's no indication of where the September 19 date has come from - possibly from talkative types over in Cupertino, but then again there aren't many of those.

Still, we'd be remiss if we didn't pass this information on to you. Even if only to give you a bit of ammo for any iPhone 6 sweepstakes you intend to take part in. And, just a quick reminder: Apple's iPhone 5S launched in the UK (and Germany) on September 20 last year. Nothing like a bit of iConsistency.

Lamborghini has announced that it's Android-powered luxury smartphone, the Antares is now on sale.

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Tonino Lamborghini has announced it will be releasing a limit edition luxury smartphone called the Antares, which will be available from today exclusively from Carphone Warehouse in Selfridges. The phone will retail for £2,500 SIM-free.

The Tonino Lamborghini Antares boasts a 4-inch scratch-proof Gorilla Glass screen and is packing a quad-core 1.5 GHz processor under the hood. The phone is running on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean OS and has 2GB of RAM and 32GB of onboard memory. User can expand this by a further 32GB through its MicroSD card slot.

The Antares has a 13 mega-pixel camera on the rear and a 5 mega-pixel front facing camera. It's roughly 0.53 inches thick and encased in stainless steel and leather.

“Antares is designed to match instantly recognizable Italian flair with great performance and stunning materials," CEO of the Tonino Lamborghini Group, Mr. Gianluca Filippi said.
"Together these qualities speak to our exclusive design heritage, one that communicates the spirit of the ‘Raging Bull’ that adorns our crest."

Odlo Nebula: Best waterproof jacket to buy 2014

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Norwegian-born Odlo designs its gear to suit a variety of outdoor activities - erring on the sporty side - and its latest jacket, the Nebula, is just that: perfect for any occasion where you're working up a big sweat, such as running or cycling.

It has a high level of waterproofing - 18,000mm to be exact - and thanks to its Gore-Tex-approved front venting system, it's able to quickly wick away moisture so you don't feel clammy. The low weight of just 260g also makes the Nebula ideal for carrying just in case.

£200 | Odlo

Nintendo has announced that Mario Kart 8 will receive an in-game Mercedes GLA kart racer as free DLC

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Nintendo has announced that Mario and his pals will soon be able to tool about Mario Kart 8's day-glo tracks in a stylish Mercedes Benz. It's about time the plumber with the most had some new wheels.

Nintendo has added a Mercedes GLA racing kart as free DLC to the game. The dowload has been slated for release in Japan this summer. No release date for Europe has yet been announced, but Nintendo UK's statement sounds rather positive.

"The announcement this time was made by Mercedes-Benz Japan regarding their collaboration in Japan with NCL," a Nintendo UK spokesperson said.

"For the information relating to the distribution of the GLA kart for MK8 outside Japan, we will be able to announce in the near future,’ the spokeperson added.

This marks perhaps the very first time a branded automobile manufacturer has placed a kart in any Mario game - although it's not the first time for Nintendo games as a whole. The deal also sees the portly plumber starring in a live action advert for the Mercedes GLA.

While the arrival of branded content from a second party in a Mario game may seem like a weird fit, the move gels with Nintendo's announced desire to expand its IP licensing efforts in order to help with its flagging financial earnings.

Samsung unveils the SimBand

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As a reference design, SimBand isn’t likely to make it to market – at least not in the way we saw it at Samsung’s Voice of the Body event. Instead, Samsung plans to allow third-party software and hardware partners to base devices around it.

The prototype device Samsung showed off at the event has the ability to track a number of statistics, including heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels.
Other specifications of the prototype device include a 14x34mm body, a 1GHz 2x ARM A7 28nm chipset as well as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support. It also comes with a removable battery so it can be charged when it isn’t being used – such as when the user is sleeping.

According to Samsung, its goal with the product is to create “a common platform for wearable sensor development”. Speaking to TechRadar, Samsung vice president of Digital Heath Ram Fish explained: “We believe that once we are all working from this common platform, sensor technology will accelerate.” An SDK for the platform is expected to be re
leased later this year.

Source:TechRadar

A new wearable band dedicated to tennis has launched on kickstarter and is hoping to ace its funding target.

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Who doesn't want to be a little quicker on the court, with slightly enhanced ball control? Smash is a new wearable device from Australia serving up a Kickstarter campaign for tennis fans.

The band is fitted with trackers and sensors that'll track your shots and aspects of your swing such as the amount of spin you put on the ball.

When you retire from the court, the information is then sent to your iOS or Android device for you to check on your performance.

If Smash hits its target of $200,000 AUD in the next 43 days, then the company reckons it'll have products ready for next February. At which point, you'll need to pay $199 AUD to get hold of one.

Watch Video > Play

Google employee shows what to expect from Android Wear notifications

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There's plenty we know about Android Wear already: It's Google's software platform for wearables; it's designed to allow you to interact with your phone and with Google Now straight from your wrist; and numerous manufacturers, from HTC to Motorola, have Wear-powered smartwatches coming in the near future.

Now there's even more we can glean, thanks to increasing activity at Google's developer hubs. For example, in-house developer advocate Timothy Jordan has just highlighted the three examples shown above as being some of his favorite Wear notifications so far -- including a slightly panic-inducing warning from a Nest thermostat. (Don't worry, a follow-up message reassures everybody that the smoke is clearing.)

This is why Apple bought Beats

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Ever since the rumors first broke that Apple wanted to buy Beats for $3 billion, the masses have uttered one universal word: Why? Apple Senior VP Eddy Cue and Beats CEO and co-founder Jimmy Iovine sat down with Recode's Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher at the Code Con
ference to discuss the confirmed news.

Not wasting any time, the execs got right into it. According to Cue, there were three overall reasons why the company made the deal: Talent, great headphones (something many folks will debate) and Beats Music.

FCC gets approval for plan to subsidize fast rural internet access

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At long last, the FCC can move forward with reforming its rural connection subsidies for the broadband era. A federal appeals court has upheld the agency's Connect America Fund after challenges from smaller carriers, which were worried that the shift from subsidizing phone calls to fast internet access would hurt their bottom line.

Their arguments were either "unpersuasive" or were blocked from legal consideration in the first place, the court says.

Following Microsoft, Sony's PlayStation business officially enters China

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It's only been about a month since Microsoft announced that it'll be bringing the Xbox to China come September, courtesy of the local government lifting its somewhat lax ban on imported video games and consoles.

Today, Sony finally confirmed that the PlayStation will indeed be joining Redmond's console in the Far East. Just like Microsoft's collaboration with China's BesTV, Sony's also working with a local company called Shanghai Oriental Pearl Culture Development (OPCD in short). As pointed out by Sina Tech, the interesting thing is that both BesTV and OPCD are part of the massive Shanghai Media Group.

didas has revealed its official ball for the 2014 Fifa World Cup to be held in Brazil this summer.

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The ball was unveiled at a launch event held yesterday at the Parque Lage in Rio de Janeiro and has been named 'Brazuca' following a public vote in Brazil back in 2012.

Brazuca is an informal local term meaning “Brazilian” or describing the Brazilian way of life. As of today, the ball is on sale worldwide.

The technology incorporated into brazuca is identical to the UEFA Champions League ball; however a new structural innovation with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch.

Brazuca is Adidas’ most tested ball ever, with 30 professional clubs testing it over a two and a half year period.
AC Milan and Bayern Munich were amongst the clubs to test the ball. And, included in the 600 professional players to be involved with the process were Lionel Messi, Iker Casillas and Zinedine Zidane.

“I’ve had the opportunity to test Brazuca and it’s great,” said Messi.

England and Liverpool captain, Steven Gerrard, also had the opportunity to test out the ball: “The first thing I look for in a ball is the weight and the feel, and it feels fantastic.
I’m sure the ball will perform in the various Brazilian climates. It’s been tested in all conditions and climates. It’s come through those tests with flying colours and that’s all you can ask.”

The design of Brazuca is inspired by the vibrant colours, passion and heritage of Brazil and will be used in the World Cup final on July 13th.

isney’s upcoming browser-based game Star Wars: Attack Squadrons has been cancelled following months of closed beta testing

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Disney has decided to axe its upcoming space combat game Star Wars: Attack Squadrons in order to concentrate on other Star Wars gaming projects.
Developer Area 52 Games announced the game’s cancellation on the game’s Facebook page.
"After much consideration, we have decided to cease development so that we can focus on other Star Wars game experiences," the statement said. "We truly appreciate the time you spent engaging in the beta."

Star Wars: Attack Squadrons was announced back in December before it went into closed beta testing in January. The browser-based game was supposed to be a free-to-play, multiplayer format that let 16 players engage in space dogfights featuring iconic vessels like the rebel X-wing and Imperial TIE interceptor.

So far EA hasn’t revealed what Star Wars game Area 52 is working on next, although DICE is currently developing the new Star Wars Battlefront.
Star Wars Battlefront is far from complete, although it will be making an appearance at this year’s E3 in June.

Source: Facebook

German weapons company Armatix has made a pistol that only the owner can fire in a bid to improve gun safety.

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A gun that can only be fired by its owner has been developed by a German company.
Armatix's iP1 Digital Smart Gun will only fire if its partnered watch, which is activated by a five-digit PIN code, is within 40cm.

A radio frequency identification chip in the gun communicates with the watch so that only the owner can fire the weapon, and the PIN code ensures that if the gun is lost or stolen it becomes useless.
The watch can also be programmed so that the gun can only fire for a short amount of time – a timed safety catch, essentially.

LEDs on the gun change colour as a magazine is loaded and the watch is brought close to the weapon. The sleek styling and LED system mean the gun is reminiscent of the palm print-sensitive Walther PPK/S 9mm used by James Bond in the 2012 film Skyfall.

The Armatix iP1 weighs 518g unloaded, and fires .22 LR caliber rounds. It has an effective range of 69 meters. It is ready for sale but in the US, which holds a huge slice of the international gun market, the device has caused controversy. Some citizens have claimed that the design could lead to a US government mandate requiring all guns to use the system.

Two retailers in the US that sold the weapons have been forced to pull them from shop shelves after hostile reactions from locals.
The system is not the first piece of modern gun technology. Last year, the US government ordered the removal of online blueprints for a 3D-printed firearm.

Source: Armatix via: BBC, China Topix